Doctor says woman isn’t fit to stand trial for murder
A woman charged in the fatal stabbing of another woman has schizophrenia and is unfit to stand trial for first-degree murder, a forensic psychiatrist testified Monday in front of a jury.
The accused, Rohinie Bisesar, is “acutely unwell” and suffers from hallucinations and delusions, which are fixed and false beliefs, “insofar no evidence to the contrary will con- vince you it’s not true,” Dr. Ian Swayze told Ontario Superior Court.
Bisesar is charged with killing Rosemarie Junor, 28, on Dec. 11, 2015. She is scheduled to go on trial in front of a jury Jan. 8.
But the Crown, acting in Bisesar’s best interests, “should not prosecute an individual who is mentally unfit,” prosecutor Beverley Richards told the court.
A different jury was empanelled Monday to consider whether Bisesar has a mental disorder and whether it renders her unable to fairly conduct her defence or instruct her counsel to do so.
During the proceedings, the woman frequently interrupted Justice John McMahon and commented throughout the jury selection process.
Bisesar also took the stand and offered rambling answers to questions by her lawyer, Robert Karrass, McMahon and Richards.
“There is something going on with me, but I do not think it is natural,” she said. “What I am experiencing is real time communication and movement from . . . (a) micro-aspect (that) could be internally in my body somewhere.”
Swayze testified while Bisesar understands the nature of the proceedings, and the possible consequences of a trial, she does not have the capacity to properly communicate with her legal counsel.
The doctor said he formed his opinion after a two-hour interview with Bisesar on Sept. 6, 2017, as well as observing a three-day assessment she had with other medical professionals. Swayze also spoke to her in the holding cells before Monday’s hearing.
The hearing resumes Tuesday.